Man pretends to shop, robs 2 Harbor-area stores - LAPD

Surveillance footage captured a man accused of robbing two stores in the Harbor area in May 2013.

June 11, 2013 12:00:00 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES --

The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding information that would lead to the arrest of a man suspected in two May robberies in the Harbor area.

Police said the same person is responsible for two robberies, one at a Radio Shack in San Pedro and the other at a Game Stop in Harbor City.

On May 25, around 7:35 p.m., a man entered a Radio Shack on the 500 block of South Gaffey Avenue in San Pedro and pretended to shop for two laptops and a bag, according to police.

He told employees he had been robbed of his laptops and was replacing them, police said. He then took out a handgun and demanded money and the laptops. The suspect ordered the employees to sit on the floor, and he fled the scene on foot.

On May 26, around 6 p.m., the suspect entered the Game Stop on the 1600 block of West Pacific Coast Highway in Harbor City, according to police. He again pretended to shop for merchandise for about 30 minutes, telling employees that items from his car had been stolen.

He then pulled out a handgun and pointed it at an employee, demanding money and the merchandise, police said. He ordered the employees to the ground before taking off on foot.

Video surveillance at both stores recorded footage of the robberies. The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, around 25 to 30 years old, between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a stocky build and a goatee.

He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and a red baseball cap with a "P" on the front.